Gas cannon and method of operating same



April 16, 1935. E. s. PEAKEJ GAS CANNON AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed' Nov. 28, 1932 I INVENTQR EDWARD $.PEAKE, BY

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 16, 1935 L I N T D STATE sf PATE T OFFICE ATING Edward S. Peake, Westerville, Ohimassignor to a corporation of Ohio pany, Westerville, Ohio,

. Application NovemberlZS, 1932, Serial No. 644,680 p screams. (o1.42-'-55) My invention relates-to gas cannons and in particular to a method of generating gas for and firing a gas cannon. i J s Itv is the objectof my invention to provide a 5 measured pellet or cartridge of gas forming material, suchas carbide,ofknown gas generating quality; to apply a small measured quantity of Water only sufficient for the] generation of gas for one firing of the cannon; to inject into' the .cannon an additional supply of air behind the ammunition, which is in "airtight engagement with the cannon, to thereby thoroughly mix and carburet the air, and then to ignite, preferably at the end of such air injection and mixture, the combined gases in order to get the greatest result in firing the projectile with the minimum expenditure of carbide.

It is my object to provide arich mixture of carbide gas which can be rendered highly explosiveby carburetion due to. theintroduction of fresh air after the generation of the gas, such air being introduced under pressure into the gas cannon.

It is my object to use a projectile that is resilient or has a-resilient covering. v

It is a further object to provide a carbide pellet from which repeated charges of gas can be extracted-by applying successive amounts of measured quantities of water, thereby reducing the amount of water to the minimumand enabling the removal of hydrate from-the carbide pellet between applications of water, asdesired.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the cannon from the t side of the mixture applying apparatus.

Figure 2 is a side elevation from the side of the ignition apparatus.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the cannon.

Figure 5 is a perspective of a typical disk or pellet form of carbide used for forming the gas.

'It will be understood that this drawing is purely diagrammatic; The mortar or cannon may be made of any desired form so long as the essential steps of my method are employed and so long as the essential parts are utilized for the practice of the method.

quantity will be employed in order to insure a uniform amount of gas upon the application of one or more, drops of water. The water is measured by controlling the admission of water through the rubber pipe 8 by the valve clamp 9 dropby drop. A stopper iii ismounted in a water passageway I l which. communicates directly with the Y member 5 so that the drops of water can drop upon thepellet T. The gas thus generated makes its exit through the opening l2 into the interior of the cannon l3. Air is injected under pressure, as with a bicycle pump or any other SOLlICQ'Of compressed air, through the valve l4.

Due to the pressure of injectionthe air causes a' considerable turbulence as it enters into the interior of the cannon, thoroughly mixing the gas. The gas is prevented from escaping by the resilient projectile ball I 5 which is held in position by the overlapping restricted shouldered throat l6 of the cannon. At the time you have the maximum oxygen and maximum pressure applied in the cannon, I simultaneously apply the spark at the termination of the stroke of the air pump delivering the air.

The firing of the spark for this purpose may be automatically controlled simultaneously with the termination of the injection of air or they may be independently timed. I a I This spark device may consist of .a flint l'l spring-pressed by the spring, i8 and sleeve 19 and a corrugated steelZD actuated by the finger piece 2 I, shaft 22 and spring 23 working against the shoulder 24 and the sleeve 25. Any desired form of ignition mechanism may be employed.

. Upon igniting the gas, the resilient projectile ball I5 is drivenoutwardly with great force and to a considerable distance; v

Idesire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be embraced within my claims and thescope of my invention.

ill

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a method of producing and firing gas in a gas cannon, providing a measured gasforming material in the cannon enclosure, yieldinglysealing the enclosure, applying a measured quantity of water on the gas forming means, injecting an additional quantity of air into the enclosure to further carburet the air therein, and igniting the mixture to blow out the seal.

2. In a method of producing and firing gas in a gas cannon, providing a measured gas forming material in the cannon enclosure, yieldingly sealing the enclosure, applying a measured quantity l of water on the gas forming means, injecting an additional quantity of air into the enclosure to further carburet the air therein, and igniting the mixture to blow out the seal simultaneously with the completion of the injection of the additional quantity ofair.

3. In combination, a gas cannon employing a measured quantity of gas forming material, means for supporting a gas forming material remote from and in communication with the cannon, means. of applying a measured quantity of water thereto, a resilient projectile mounted in the mouth of said cannon, means of igniting the gas so formed, and means of injecting an additional quantity of air into the cannon under pressure after the gas has started to form, and means for igniting the gas so formed.

4. In combination, a cannon body, a diverging communicating chamber for the forming of gas, means to support a gas forming pellet therein, means of introducing water drop by drop onto said pellet,means of firing the gas thus generated when it is delivered into the cannon, and resilient means for retaining the pressure of gas thus generated in the cannon until so fired.

5. In combination, a cannon body, a diverging communicating chamber, for the forming of gas, means to support a gas forming pellet therein, means of introducing water drop by drop onto said pellet, means of firing the gas thus gen. erated when it is delivered into the cannon, re-' silient means for retaining the pressure of gas thus generated in the cannonuntil so fired, and

means i or injecting an additional quantity of outside air into the cannon after the gas has been thus generated and immediately prior to firing.

6. In combination, a cannon for using a compressed pellet of carbide, means of applying water drop by drop on the pellet to form a measured charge of gas, a resilient closure member for the cannon to confine the gas so generated, means tofire the gas, and means't'o inject under pressure an additional quantity of air into the gas thus formed prior to'firing to carburate the gas.

'7. Incombination, a vertically disposed mortar having anopen top with an overhanging lip, a resilient ball projectile engaged in said mortar beneath said lip, aidiverging chamber adjacent the bottom of said mortar for receiving a carbide "pellet, means mounted thereon of admitting water drop by drop thereto, means in the mortar for admitting air under pressure,

EDWARD S. PEAKE. 

